How to Price Print-On-Demand Products in 7 Easy Steps

Struggling to find the sweet spot for pricing your print-on-demand products? You’re not alone. Pricing can be one of the trickiest aspects of running a print-on-demand business.

Set the retail price too high, and you risk losing potential customers. Set it too low, and your profit margins could suffer.

In this guide, I’m going to share a straightforward, step-by-step process to help you price your products effectively. It’s really quite simple, you just add up all your costs, determine your desired profits, and research your competitors.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to price your print-on-demand products without sacrificing your profits or customer appeal.

So, are you ready to learn How to Price Print-on-Demand Products?

How to Price Print-on-Demand Products: Step-By-Step

Alright, let’s get down to business. Here’s the step-by-step process I’ll be going over to help you price your products. Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to pricing, but these steps will give you a solid foundation to start from.

1. Choose a Pricing Strategy

There are several strategies you can use, and the best one for your business will depend on your costs, your competitors’ prices, and your customers’ expectations. Here are a few strategies to consider:

• Cost-Plus Pricing: This is the simplest pricing strategy. You simply add a markup to your costs to determine your retail price. The markup should cover your other costs (like marketing and website costs) and leave room for profit.
• Competitive Pricing: With competition-oriented pricing, you set your prices based on what your competitors are charging. This doesn’t mean you have to match their prices exactly, but you should aim to be in the same price league.
• Value-Based Pricing: This strategy involves setting your prices based on the perceived value of your products. If your products offer unique benefits or features that your customers value, you may be able to charge a premium price.
• Dynamic Pricing: This is a more advanced strategy that involves adjusting your prices based on demand, market conditions, or customer behavior. This can be an effective strategy for maximizing profits, but it requires careful monitoring and management.

Remember, the best pricing strategy for your business will depend on a variety of factors, and it may take some trial and error to find the right approach.

2. Determine Your Desired Profit Margin

Pricing your products also depends a lot on how much you want to make with your print-on-demand business. Your profit margin is essentially what you earn from each sale after all costs have been deducted. Here’s how to approach it:

Set a Target:

Decide on a target profit margin. This could be a flat rate or a percentage of the retail price. For example, you might decide that you want to make a $10 profit on every t-shirt you sell, or you might aim for a profit margin of 50%.

It’s important to set a target that is both realistic and sustainable for your business. And remember sometimes you have to have competitive prices and thus drop below your margin.

Factor in Your Costs:

Now that you have a desired profit you need to take a look at all your costs.

Subtract your total cost per product (as calculated in the previous step) from your retail price. The result is your profit per product. This is a crucial step in understanding whether your current pricing is sustainable.

If your costs are too high, you might need to find ways to reduce them or consider increasing your retail price.

Adjust as Needed:

If your calculated profit margin is lower than your target, you might need to consider raising your retail price or finding ways to lower your costs.

It’s important to remember that pricing is not a set-it-and-forget-it process. It requires regular review and adjustment to ensure you’re maintaining your desired profit margin.

3. Understand Your Costs

This is the first crucial step in pricing your print-on-demand products. It’s not just about the numbers; it’s about knowing what each cost represents and how it impacts your overall business. Let’s dive deeper:

Product Costs:

The product cost is a significant factor in your business. This includes the cost of the blank product and the cost of printing your design on it.

For instance, if you’re selling cups, the product cost would include the cost of the blank cup and the printing cost. Some POD companies also charge extra for larger, more complex prints, as well as if they offer embroidery or other special printing techniques.

Companies offer different pricing, so you need to compare and choose a print-on-demand website that offers quality products at a good price. The choices you have are also sometimes limited to the products you want to sell.

For example, if you plan on selling candles, you might want to find a print-on-demand candle-specific company.

Remember, the lower your product cost, the higher your potential profit margin. So put some time in and choose the right print-on-demand platform for you.

I typically recommend starting out with our top picks, Printful and Printify, as they both offer a solid combo of quality and price.

Shipping Costs:

Shipping can be a hefty cost, especially if you’re offering free shipping to your customers. Print-on-demand services all have different shipping rates, so make sure you pay attention to these costs. These costs also vary based on the destination and where they’re coming from.

You can choose to pass this on to the customer but beware most prefer to see free shipping.

Platform Fees:

If you’re selling on a marketplace platform like Shopify or Etsy, you’ll likely have to pay some fees. These can include listing fees, transaction fees, and possibly a monthly subscription fee.

Make sure you’re aware of all the fees associated with your chosen platform.

It’s also worth noting that these fees can change, so it’s important to stay up-to-date with any changes your platform makes to its transaction fee structure.

Design Costs:

If you’re hiring a designer or purchasing designs, these costs need to be factored in. If you create designs yourself, it’s tempting to ignore design costs to keep the retail price low. Even if you’re creating designs yourself, it’s important to value your time.

Consider the time it takes to create a design and how many products that design can be used on. This will help you understand the production cost of your designs on a per-product basis.

4. Consider Other Costs

Running a print-on-demand business involves more than just the fixed cost of creating and selling products. There are other costs to consider:

Marketing Expenses:

Whether it’s social media ads, email marketing, or search engine optimization, marketing costs can add up. Make sure you’re tracking these expenses and factoring them into your pricing strategy. It’s also worth considering the return on investment for your marketing efforts.

If a particular marketing channel is not delivering the results you want, it might be time to reconsider your strategy.

Return Services:

If you offer returns or exchanges, there will be costs associated with these services. This could include shipping costs for returned items and the cost of processing returns.

It’s important to have a clear return policy in place and to communicate this policy to your customers. This can help to manage expectations and reduce the likelihood of costly returns.

Website Costs:

If you have your own site for your online store, it involves costs like domain registration, website hosting, and possibly ecommerce platform fees. Don’t forget to factor these into your pricing. It’s also worth considering the time and effort required to maintain your website.

This includes tasks like updating product listings, managing customer inquiries, and ensuring your website is secure and user-friendly.

5. Research the Market

Market research is a critical step in pricing your print-on-demand products. It’s not just about looking at what your competitors are charging; it’s about understanding the value that customers see in your products and how much they’re willing to pay for that value. Here’s how to approach it:

Identify Your Competitors:

Start by identifying who your direct competitors are. These are other businesses that are selling similar products to a similar target audience.

You can find these businesses by searching for similar products on ecommerce platforms, using Google, or looking at industry directories.

Analyze Their Pricing:

Once you’ve identified your competitors, take a look at their pricing. How much are they charging for similar products? Are they offering a lower discount price?

This can give you a sense of the average market price for similar products.

Consider Your Unique Value Proposition:

While it’s important to be aware of the competition, it’s also crucial to consider what makes your products unique. Do you offer unique designs? I sit a metallic print or embroidery? Is your customer service exceptional? Do you use high-quality materials?

These factors can add value to your products and may justify a higher price point.

Listen to Your Customers:

Finally, don’t forget to listen to your customers. They can provide valuable feedback on your pricing. Are they happy with the value they’re getting for the price? Are they comparing your prices to those of your competitors?

This feedback can help you adjust your pricing to better meet your customers’ expectations.

6. Test Your Prices

Once you’ve set your prices, it’s important to test them to see how your customers respond. This can involve A/B testing different prices, offering limited-time promotions, or simply monitoring your sales and customer feedback. Here’s how to approach it:

• A/B Testing: This involves offering the same product at two different prices to see which one performs better. This can be a powerful way to test different pricing strategies and see what your customers are willing to pay.
• Promotions: Offering limited-time promotions can be a great way to test different price points. For example, you could offer a discount on a particular product and see how it affects sales. Just be careful not to offer discounts too frequently, as this can devalue your products.
• Monitor Sales and Feedback: Keep a close eye on your sales and any customer feedback you receive. Are your sales increasing or decreasing after a price change? Are customers commenting on your prices? This feedback can provide valuable insights into how your pricing is perceived.

Remember, testing your prices is not a one-time activity. It’s something you should be doing regularly to ensure your pricing remains effective.

7. Review and Adjust Regularly

Finally, I’ve said a million times, that it’s important to review and adjust your prices regularly. Costs can change, market conditions can shift, and customer preferences can evolve. Regularly reviewing your pricing strategy can help you stay ahead of these changes and ensure your pricing remains effective.

Here’s how to approach it:

• Monitor Your Costs: Keep a close eye on your costs. Are your product costs increasing? Are shipping rates going up? Are you spending more on marketing? If your costs are increasing, you may need to adjust your prices to maintain your profit margin.
• Stay Aware of Market Changes: Keep an eye on the market. Are your competitors changing their prices? Are new products or trends affecting the average market price? Staying aware of these changes can help you adjust your pricing strategy as needed.
• Listen to Your Customers: Finally, always listen to your customers. They can provide valuable feedback on your pricing. If you’re receiving a lot of feedback that your prices are too high, it might be time to reassess. Conversely, if customers are regularly telling you that they would be willing to pay more for your products, it might be time to consider a price increase.

Remember, pricing is not a set-it-and-forget-it process. It requires regular review and adjustment to ensure it remains effective.

Successfully Pricing Print-on-Demand Products

Pricing your print-on-demand products isn’t just about setting a retail price and hoping for the best. It’s a strategic process that requires careful thought and regular review. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:

Changing Prices

Firstly, pricing is a dynamic process. Your costs can change, the market average can shift, and the preferences of your target market can evolve.

Regularly reviewing your pricing strategy can help you stay ahead of these changes and ensure your pricing remains effective.

Importance of Costs

Secondly, understanding your costs is crucial. This includes not only the direct costs of producing your products (like product and production costs) but also the indirect costs of running your business (like advertising budget, transaction fees, and monthly ecommerce platform subscriptions).

By having a clear understanding of all your costs, you can price your products in a way that covers these costs and leaves room for profit.

Communicating Quality

Lastly, remember that pricing is about more than just covering costs and making a profit. It’s also about communicating value to your customers. The price of your products can influence how customers perceive their value.

If your prices are too low, customers might question the quality of your products. But if your prices reflect the quality and uniqueness of your designs, customers will be more likely to see the value in what you’re offering.

How to Optimize Your Pricing Strategy

Once you’ve got the basics of pricing down, you might be wondering how you can take your pricing strategy to the next level. Here are a few ideas:

• Use Psychological Pricing: Psychological pricing involves setting prices in a way that appeals to a customer’s emotional response. For example, setting a price at $9.99 instead of $10 can make the price seem significantly lower in the customer’s mind.
• Offer Volume Discounts: Offering discounts for purchasing multiple items can encourage larger orders and increase your overall sales. Just make sure you’re still covering your costs and making a profit on each sale.

Remember, the goal is not just to set prices, but to optimize them in a way that maximizes your sales and profits.

Alternatives to Traditional Pricing Strategies

While the strategies I’ve discussed are widely used, they’re not the only options. Here are a few alternative pricing strategies you might consider:

– Tiered Pricing: With this strategy, you offer different versions of a product at different prices. This allows customers to choose the version that best fits their needs and budget.

– Subscription Pricing: This involves charging customers a recurring fee to access your products. This can provide a steady stream of revenue and encourage customer loyalty.

– Pay What You Want: This is a bit of an oddball that allows customers to pay the amount they feel is fair. This can be a risky strategy, but it can also build goodwill and lead to higher overall revenue if customers choose to pay more than the minimum price. Mostly though I would not recommend this.

Remember, the best pricing strategy for your business will depend on a variety of factors, including your costs, your market, and your customers’ preferences.

How To Price Print-On-Demand Products: Final Thoughts

This whole pricing thing can be a complex process, but with the right approach, it’s definitely manageable.

In my own experience in e-commerce, I’ve found that the key to successful pricing is flexibility and understanding your costs.

Costs can change, market conditions can shift, and customer preferences can evolve. Being willing to adjust your prices in response to these changes can make a big difference in the success of your business.

Remember, the goal of pricing is not just to cover your costs and make a profit. It’s also to communicate the value of your products to your customers. By setting prices that reflect the quality and uniqueness of your designs, you can attract more customers, make more sales, and grow your print-on-demand business.